People from all over will have an opportunity to see and pet alpacas, and will be able to learn more about them, when Red Roof Ranch takes part in National Alpaca Farm Days for the third straight year, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, and Sunday, Sept. 27, at their location on 284 Old Rocky Point Road in Caledonia.

Kathy Tinkham said she and her husband Rick have been raising huacaya alpacas for their fleece for six years and have been participating in the National Alpaca Farm Days for three years, since it helps raise people’s awareness about alpacas.

“We had hundreds of people, it was just incredible,” Tinkham said about the first year they had the Farm Days at their ranch. “Alpaca farms across the county are all having this.”

There will be some alpacas in the barn where people can get a closer look at them and pet them, there will be alpaca-themed coloring books for children, alpaca yarns and other products will be sold, and information about alpacas will be available, said Tinkham.

She added however that attendance might be down this year compared to previous years because of the economy.

Tinkam’s ranch, the Red Roof Ranch, is part of the Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association, the group that started the farm days as a way to get more people to know about alpacas. She is also president of the Kentucky Alpaca Association this year.

Tinkham said they have raised other animals prior to raising alpacas, such as cattle and a few horses, and although she likes the other animals they have raised in the past, she said she likes alpacas because they are smaller, are generally not temperamental and are easier to handle.

“They’re just really neat animals,” Tinkham said, adding that they are good around children.

For more information, contact Tinkham at 270-206-0367, or visit their web site at www.alpacanation.com/redroofranch.asp, or visit nationalalpacafarmdays.com to find out which alpaca farms are participating in the event.